How do I get the winch off?!?!?!

[Major Nelson]

ok. This I'm sure will be a dumb question...I want to get the winch off so that I can do some work to the bumper (Straightened, painted). There seems to be a bolt in the lower left corner holding the winch on...no idea how they would have tightened it in the first place....but its definitely not budging....is there something simple Im just missing? How do I get it off?



also the one of the upper holes for the bolts is pretty oblong now (evidently this winch has seen some use in its original days)...what's the best way to repair something like that for future installation?

Thanks all.

 

[fj404life]

There are 4 bolts on those 8274's holding them on. The 2 you can see, and 2 more below them.
If they got the bolts on then there must be a way to get them off!
I would be tempted to drill a couple holes in the bumper face to access the lower bolts.

Best pic I could find of the 4 mounting holes.

 

[Pighead]

Take the bumper off first?

 

[Poser]

Torch

 

[Major Nelson]

Torch

Hah! That's what I'm thinking pretty soon.

 

[subzali]

Don't the lower bolts line up with the fair lead mounting holes? Use an extension. The bolts are held in by square nuts

 

[cruiserpilot]

When the bumper was built, the rear plate was just welded on. The lower two mounting bolts are accesed from the front of the rear plate in between the the opening. Thank god ratcheting wrenches were invented! The nuts are floating in the winch drum housing, so you should not need to hold them. If the bolt is spinning then you have a bit of a problem, look down the side of the winch drum housing and see if the nut is spinning.
Hope this helps.

 

[ColonelMustardFJ40]

I have this winch and there are 6 bolts mounting it to the bumper. 4 on the left side and two on the right that you can see in the picture.

 

[lrowe_csp]

Once I pulled the fairlead off of my bumper, I was able to access that particular bolt with a gear wrench from inside the opening for the wire rope/fairlead. Tightened it back up the same way when I was done with the winch upgrades.

 

[t-o]

I have this winch and there are 6 bolts mounting it to the bumper. 4 on the left side and two on the right that you can see in the picture.

Yes. My belleview winch like the original post attaches with 6 bolts 7/16". There are no nuts, the winch housing is threaded.

So use some heat to try to get it unstuck. If you have to cut off the bolt head leave as much bolt as you can so you'll have something to grab later.

Tim

 

[t-o]

Also did you lok inside the bumper channel? One of my bolts is like that -- had to use a wrench inside the bumber. The left bolt in the photo seems too far left for the winch but hard to tell.

 

[Major Nelson]

Also did you lok inside the bumper channel? One of my bolts is like that -- had to use a wrench inside the bumber. The left bolt in the photo seems too far left for the winch but hard to tell.

I'm trying the wrench inside the bumper as well..just letting it soak in wd40 for a few days....the bolt didn't line up with the inner bolt...a PITA...not much room inside the bumper...no idea how they got it so tight putting in on in the firs place...not much room to work.

Thanks guys...hopefully will have it off soon.

 

[subzali]

WD-40 isn't really a penetrating oil, you would probably be better off going and getting some.

 

[flop]

impact wrench

 

[Major Nelson]

impact wrench

no way to get an impact wrench inside there...can't even fit a ratchet. I'll have to go get some penetrating oil.

 

[SSCR]

I have this winch and there are 6 bolts mounting it to the bumper. 4 on the left side and two on the right that you can see in the picture.

Colonel that is an awesome photo, looks super tuff. Wish they still sold those BFGs.

 

[ColonelMustardFJ40]

Thanks a bunch SSCR. Not very good in the snow.